Snow-plow and rutter



(No Model.)

I. K. KERR.

. SNOW PLOW AND BUTTER.

Patented July 28, 1891.

on o 0 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ISAAC K. KERR, OF EAU CLAIRE, VISCONSIN.

SNOW-PLOW AND RU TTER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 456,576, dated July 28,1891.

Application filed January 26, 1891. Serial No. 379,104. (No model.) I

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that l, ISAAC K. KERR, a citizen of theUnitedStatearesidingatl lau Claire, in the county of Eau Claire and State ofWisconsin, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in LoggersSnow-Flows and Butters; and I do hereby declare the following to be afull, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enableothers skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use thesame.

My invention has for its object to provide a combined rutter andsnow'plow for forming and keeping clear logging-roads.

On logging-roads it is desirable to have a constant track for therunners of the loggingsleds, and it is best to have the track in theform of ruts of substantially the same width as the sled-runners. Igenerally construct the road before the freeze-up or the fall of snow.lVhen the snow falls, it will be compacted in the ruts and form an icypath or guideway for the sleds. In case there is no snow, and evensometimes when there is, the ruts are partially filled with water,which, upon freezing, afford the icy path. It is desirable to keep theruts clear to a sufficient distance below the surface of the road toenable them to act as guideways for the runners and prevent the sluingof the sleds. It is also necessary to keep the surface of the road clearof deep snow. To do this work I adj ustably mount a rutting-toolin asuitable seat in the sled-runners. The tool is spoonshaped on its loweror cutting end and is mounted so as to project below the bottom of therunner. It is adjustable by suitable levers under the control of theoperator, so as to cut the rut or clear the same to a greater or lessdepth, as may be desired. In front of the rutter the runners areprovided with lateral openings to permit the outward passage of the snowfrom the space between the runners. Between the runners, forward of therutter, is located aV-shaped plow for clearing the central part of theroad-bed. This plow is supported from its corners by hangers adjustableby suitable levers mounted 011 the sled. Sets of drag-rods connect theplow with the forward end of the sled. These drag-rods are in pairs ofunequal length, one short rod and one long rod being attached to eachside of the plow. The long rod is pivotally connected to the plow atsome point back of its center and has its front end pivoted to the innerfront end of the runner. The short rod is pivotally connected to theplow at some point forward of the center and has its front end pivotedto the front crossbar of the sled, which may be the pole-bar. A pair ofrelatively long iianging wings are pivoted to the outside of the runnersat their forward ends, and are provided with inwardly-extended pin-racksat their rear ends, which work through slots in the rear ends of therunners. This construction adapts the same to be set at any desiredangle to the sled. Directly back of the rutter are pivot ally attachedto the outside of the runners a pair of relatively short flanging wings,which are preferably connected at their rear ends to the sled-runner bya togglejoint, the runner being cut away at the point of attachment toform a seat, into which the toggle will fold when the wing is in itsclosed position. The plow and the wings are each preferably provided ontheir bottoms with fianging plates or cutters for the more readyseparation of the snow and ice. The plow and the wings are also providedwith side-boards projecting at an angle outward from their upper edgesfor the better clearance of the snow.

My machine is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein Figure lis a plan view of the same, some parts being broken away. Fig. 2 is aleftside elevation, one wing being broken away. Fig. 3 is a section ofone of the wings or side pieces of the plow, and Fig. 4 is a detailshowing the rutting-tool detached.

A KB 13 B G is the sled, of which A A are the runners, B B 13 thecross-bars, and O the front bar or pole-piece. Each runner is cut awayto provide lateral openings, as shown at a, and a rutter-tool seat.(Shown at a'.) The runners are also cut away at their rear ends, asshown at I), for the passage of the rackbars.

D is the rutter-tool, provided with longitudinal slots (6 d; This toolrests on the seat a chisel fashion and is adjust-ably secured thereto byset-screws d from. a face-plate (Z working through the slots (1. A leverE is pivoted to the runner and has its lower end working through theslot (1' of the rutter. By swinging this lever into diiterent positionsthe rutting-tool maybe set to any desired cut and secured in thatposition by lock-pin c and segment-plate E or otherwise, as may bedesired.

F is the V-shaped plow. G G are the drag-rods connecting the same to theforward end of the sled, of which G are the longer and G the shorterset.

H are the hangers; K, the pivoted levers mounted on the frame foradjusting the same. These levers may be held in any desired position bypin-bars L or otherwise.

M are the long wings, and N the rack-bars for adjusting the same.

P are the short wings, and p the toggle-lever for effecting theiradjustment.

f are the flanging plates attached to the sides of the plow and thepivoted wings.

The operation is as follows: The parts having been set in their desiredposition under the forward movement of the sled, the ruts will becleared by the rutting-tool, the plow will clear the snow from thecenter of the track, forcing the same outward through the lateralopenings in the runners, the long flanging wings will throw the mainbody of the snow on the outside of the ruts to a considerable distancetherefrom, and the part passed outward from the center of the trackthrough the openings will be caught by the short wings and forced farenough outward to clear the track on the outside of the ruts.

In case it is desired to use the rutter independently of the plow andthe flanging wing, as may be done when forming the ruts before asnow-fall, the plow and therlong wings may be removed. The manner ofsupporting the plow renders it adjustable, while at the same time it isfirmly held in its proper position.

By actual practice I have found this a very serviceable machine.

Vhat I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the UnitedStates, is as follows:

1. The combination, with the sled, of the V-shaped plow located betweenthe runners, and sets of drag-rods of unequal length, one short and onelong red extending from different positions on the sides of the plow tothe forward end of the sled, substantially as described.

2. The combination, with the sled having lateral openings in itsrunners, of a pair of relatively long wings attached to the front endsof the runners and a pair of relatively short wings attached to therunners back of said openings, substantially as described.

3. The combination, with the sled having lateral openings in itsrunners, of the V-shaped plow between the runners, the relatively longflanging wings attached to the forward ends of the runners, and therelatively short wings attached to the runners in the rear of saidopenings, substantially as described.

4. The combination, with the Sled runner, of the rutting-tool adjustably mounted therein, provided with a lever-receiving slot, the leverpivoted to the sled, having one end working in said slot, and means forsecuring the lever in different positions, substantially as described.

5. The combined rutter and snow-plow comprising the sled having lateralopenings in its runners, the rutting-tcols adjustably mounted in therunners, the plow adjustably mounted between the runners, the long wingspivoted to the forward ends of the runners and the short wings pivotedto the runners in the rear of said openings, and means for securing saidadjustable parts in any positions in which they may be set.

In testimonywhereof l aifix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

ISAAC K. KERR.

Witnesses:

J AS. F. WILLIAMSON, EMMA F. ELMORE.

